The Importance of Social Media in the Recruitment Process

Want to get noticed for that next job? Who doesn’t? There are so many things you can do to ensure your CV stands out from the crowd and your interview skills are up to scratch, but one aspect many forget to address during the recruitment process is the importance of the digital world, mainly social media.

Choosing the right platform

Most of us will be active on at least one social media platform, whether that’s sharing statuses and videos on Facebook, tweeting about the latest news or sharing snaps of your latest dinner, location or outfit on Instagram. Perhaps the most important social network to consider when job hunting is LinkedIn, the professional social network.

Before we come on to how networks such as LinkedIn can help with job searches, getting noticed and becoming a standout candidate, it’s key to address the dos and don’ts when it comes to using other social platforms whilst job hunting.

Be socially savvy

No one wants to see your university photos from 10+ years ago, where you’re rolling around on the floor and drinking out of a bucket. The audience who especially don’t want to see this is recruiters, so it’s important to make sure you’re socially savvy.

Profiles for personal use, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to some extent should be kept private. Don’t hide everything on your page, then you look like you want to do exactly that; hide things from people, but make sure you’re selective in what you show to users outside of your friendship group.

Make sure your profile and cover images are suitable, and your about sections are up to date with job roles, personal info, etc. You could even include links to any of your professional sites or information on your hobbies. Instagram is mainly used for high-quality imagery anyway, but again, be savvy in knowing what and what not to share, especially on Instagram Stories if you’re an avid user.

Do your research

Social media can also be a very useful tool in conducting valuable company research prior to an application or interview. The best way to apply for a job is through a recruiter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use LinkedIn, or any other social network, to research information on the company, its projects, processes and even staff numbers.

Explore each individual Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages belonging to the company (sometimes brands have more than one, say for customer services purposes on Twitter), and note any stand-out findings down. These can help greatly when attending an interview, as it helps you come across as inquisitive, thorough and interested in the business and its future.

A social CV

When it comes to your own personal profile, this almost acts as a CV. Lots of recruiters will ask for social network links nowadays, including LinkedIn, so it’s a real chance to show off your skillset and help validate it, too. Past and present colleagues can endorse you for particular skills, and the more you’re endorsed for a skill, the better it looks on your virtual CV (and actual CV, too!). When a recruiter sees your CV and LinkedIn profile and pairs them up, seeing validated endorsements on those skills you’ve outlined on paper is a real strong point.

Staying up to date

Make sure you keep your LinkedIn account up to date with jobs, the timings are correct and try and get as many relevant endorsements as you can to help boost your profile. Growing your network is also a huge benefit. Just like Facebook friends, LinkedIn connections are almost endorsements in themselves. You don’t want thousands as it comes across as impersonal, and recruiters will likely question the validity of it, as who realistically knows that number of people through the workplace, or even with the help of networking events.

Make sure you’re regularly creating and sharing content on your page, too. This will not only expand your reach on the platform but showcase your professionalism and knowledge across your industry, too. Make sure you include your own opinion when sharing articles – it adds a personal touch and shows you know what you’re talking about, as opposed to just sharing content in bulk.

LinkedIn groups

LinkedIn groups is another way to get noticed during the recruitment process. Groups are where like-minded users can join to talk about topics of interest and engage in knowledge-sharing in a professional forum. Engaging in conversations within LinkedIn groups can help expand your job search, and looks good to recruiters too, especially if you include within your CV itself. Groups can be set up by brands or individuals, so it’s also a great way to connect with brands and influential audiences.